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Why?

Often, when an elf begins a story, he or she might have a few ideas to work with. (Note: writing a story Wish List is a fast way we get those first ideas. how-do-i-find-a-topic-to-write-about )

But then we sometimes slow down. How will these few ideas expand into a whole story?

Readily, an elf will turn to a single, short question:

Why?

Why is there a monster in a boy’s arms (above)? Did someone hand this boy a monster? Why is the monster purple? Are the forests of his home purple and pink, and, with purple fur, he blends in there?

Why is the monster smiling? Did the boy rescue him from the capture of a fiendish zookeeper?

And what about this scene, below! Why is there a spaceship? Did the monster arrive by spaceship to the boy’s planet, or did the boy arrive to the monster’s planet?

Why don’t the monster and the boy live together? (Is the boy trying to keep his furry companion a secret from his family and friends?

Why?

New idea: You can start with a story wish list, or a couple of fast sketches of your first story ideas—or both. And when you have these first few ideas gathered, you can begin asking “Why?” over and OVER again.

You can continue to ask “Why?” throughout the story, as you write. This little question begins to quickly put meat on the bones of a story.